Israel-Iran Tensions LIVE: India urges de-escalation as Iran fires barrage of drones, missiles at Israel

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, declared that his nation will “harm” anyone who attacks them directly and that his nation has been preparing for an Iranian attack for years.

In retaliation for the bombing of Iran’s embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus earlier this month, Iran late on Saturday launched a volley of explosive drones and missiles directly into Israeli territory.

“In recent times, and particularly in the last several weeks, Israel has been getting ready for an outright Iranian strike. We are prepared for every situation, both offensively and defensively, with our defensive systems in place. Israel is a powerful State. The IDF is powerful. The people are powerful “said Netanyahu.

Israel was on high alert Sunday after Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone attack drew an international chorus of condemnation and sparked fears of a broader conflict.

Iran launched its first-ever direct assault on Israeli territory late Saturday in retaliation for a deadly Damascus strike, marking a major escalation of the long-running covert war between the regional foes.

Israel struck a Hezbollah site in eastern Lebanon near the Syrian border on Sunday , the Israeli army and a source from the Iran-backed group said, as tensions soared after Iran directly attacked Israel.

The Hezbollah source told AFP that “the Israeli strike targeted an area… near Baalbek and targeted a two-storey building belonging to Hezbollah,” adding there were no casualties.

Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, just finished a meeting with foreign ambassadors in Tehran. What he stated was this:

– We told the US that we would only be attacking Israel “limitedly” and out of self-defense.

– We don’t want the conflict in the area to get worse.

– We’ve warned the US that if it targets Iran, we’ll hit its bases.

– Iran’s main priority is ensuring the security of its neighbors.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Sunday that British fighter jets had shot down Iranian attack drones during Tehran’s unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel.

“I can confirm that our planes did shoot down a number of Iranian attack drones,” Sunak said, confirming reports that Britain had helped Israel and other allies repel the strikes.

Air raid sirens blared across Israel after Iran launched a barrage of drones and missiles in its first-ever direct attack on Israeli territory. Similar aerial attacks occurred last year when Hamas launched Operation ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ and conducted aerial and ground attacks.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated, “Dozens of surface-to-surface missile launches from Iran were identified approaching Israeli territory. The IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted the majority of the launches using the Arrow Aerial Defense System, together with Israel’s strategic allies, before they crossed into Israeli territory.” “We intercepted 99% of the threats launched to the territory of Israel. It’s a very significant strategic success,” Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.

Videos on social media platforms show the Arrow defense system, along with the Iron Dome system, intercepting aerial threats. The night sky lit up with multiple explosions across Israel, with no signs of tensions simmering down between the regional powers.

India is seriously concerned at the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran that threatens the peace and security in the West Asia region, the Ministry of External Affairs said today, hours after Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israel.

“We call for immediate de-escalation, exercise of restraint, stepping back from violence and return to the path of diplomacy. We are closely monitoring the evolving situation. Our Embassies in the region are in close touch with Indian community. It is vital that security and stability are maintained in the region,” the ministry has said in its statement.

In a major escalation in the geopolitically significant region, Tehran has launched over 200 drones and missiles at Israel, stressing that it is an act of “self-defence” after Iran’s diplomatic mission in Damascus was targeted.

The Iranian army said Sunday its drone and missile attack on Israel, in retaliation for a deadly strike on Iran’s Damascus consulate, has “achieved all its objectives”.

“Operation Honest Promise… was completed successfully from last night to this morning and achieved all its objectives”, Mohammad Bagheri, the Iranian armed forces’ chief of staff, told state TV.

Iran has said it had attacked Israel in “self-defence” following the April 1 strike on its diplomatic mission in Damascus, which was widely blamed on Israel.

Pope Francis urged Iran and Israel to avoid actions that could feed “a spiral of violence” that risked dragging the Middle East deeper into conflict.

“Enough war, enough attacks, enough violence. Yes to dialogue, yes to peace,” he told pilgrims in St Peter’s Square.

Iran summoned the French, British and German ambassadors to Tehran on Sunday over reactions to Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel.

“The British, French and German ambassadors to Tehran were summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the irresponsible positions of certain officials of these countries regarding Iran’s response to the actions of the Zionist regime (Israel) against the nationals and interests of our country,” the official IRNA news agency said.

Bless you dear soldiers and commanders of the IDF and IAF.

Bless the coalition of nations led by the US and @POTUS.

Bless my sisters and brothers, the people of Israel, for their exceptional show of resilience.

Together, the forces of good will overcome the forces of evil.

Am…

— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) April 14, 2024

#WATCH | Delhi: On Iran's retaliatory attack against Israel and civilian casualties, Ambassador of Israel to India Naor Gilon says, "...Iran is the financer, trainer of Hamas...What happened yesterday is that Iran turned it from a war by proxy to a direct attack on Israel...They… pic.twitter.com/6YgjjpskTZ

— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2024

Il Governo italiano ribadisce la condanna agli attacchi iraniani contro Israele. La presidenza italiana del G7 ha organizzato per il primo pomeriggio di oggi una conferenza in collegamento a livello dei leader. Esprimiamo forte preoccupazione per una destabilizzazione ulteriore…

— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) April 14, 2024

I condemn in the strongest terms the unprecedented attack launched by Iran against Israel, which threatens to destabilize the region.

I express my solidarity with the Israeli people and France's commitment to the security of Israel, our partners, and regional stability.…

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 14, 2024

Iran's wide-scale coordinated attack demonstrates it poses not only a regional threat but an international one.

Together with a defense coalition of international partners, we achieved a successful interception of 99% of aerial threats launched by Iran.

We stand strong…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 14, 2024

India advised its citizens living in Israel to “stay calm” and adhere to the safety instructions provided by the local authorities, as Iran fired drones and missiles at Israel, ushering in a new and more explosive chapter of the Middle East conflict.

In addition, the Indian embassy in Israel provided helplines and asked all Indian citizens to register with them.

📢*IMPORTANT ADVISORY FOR INDIAN NATIONALS IN ISRAEL*

Link : https://t.co/OEsz3oUtBJ pic.twitter.com/ZJJeu7hOug

— India in Israel (@indemtel) April 14, 2024

#WATCH | Ambassador of Israel to India, Naor Gilon says, "Early this morning, when Israeli citizens were still in their beds. Hamas, the terror organization from Gaza, perpetrated a dual attack, both rockets towards Israeli civilians and ground attacks by terrorists against… pic.twitter.com/pf7iRo6kkN

— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2023

Several Iranian airports including Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International have cancelled flights until Monday, Iranian state media reported on Sunday, as tensions flared in the Middle East with Iran’s attack on Israel overnight.

Iran launched dozens of drones and missiles at Israel through Saturday night into Sunday as a response to Israel’s bombing of its consulate in Syria on April 1, raising fears of a possible Israeli retaliation against Tehran.

“All flights from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport have been cancelled until 6 a.m. (0230 GMT) following an announcement by Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation,” the airport’s executive told the Iranian Student News Agency.

Russia on Sunday urged all sides to “show restraint” after Iran launched an unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel.

“We are counting on the regional states to solve the existing problems with political and diplomatic means,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Moscow expressed “extreme concern over the latest dangerous escalation in the region”.

It said it had warned numerous times that “the lack of resolution to numerous crises in the Middle East, primarily in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict” would “lead to growth in instability”.

Israelis in Jerusalem said Sunday Iran’s overnight missile and drone attack was “frightening”, but they were confident in their country’s defences — and some called for retaliation.

The city awoke to no noticeable difference in the main market or at its main train and bus stations.

Israel said it had “foiled” the unprecedented direct Iranian attack with the help of the United States and allies, but residents said they were worried.

October 7: Hamas launches a devastating strike against Israel.

October 9: Israel orders ‘total blockade’ of Gaza.

October 11: Netanyahu establishes an emergency government.

October 12: Israel tells civilians to leave northern Gaza.

October 17: A bomb at al-Ahli Hospital killed at least 100 people.

October 21: The Rafah border reopens.

October 27: Israel conducts a ground assault.

October 31: Israeli attacks on Jabalya kill over 100 civilians.

November 6: The death toll reached 10,000.

November 15: Israeli soldiers raided al-Shifa hospital.

November 19: The Houthis kidnap a commercial vessel.

November 24: Israel and Hamas stop combat in hostage-for-prisoners deal.

December 4: Israeli soldiers move into southern Gaza.

December 15: Israeli troops inadvertently killed three hostages.

December 22: Gaza dead toll surpasses 20,000.

December 28: United Nations condemns the situation in the West Bank.

January 2: A senior Hamas commander was murdered in an explosion in Beirut.

January 11: South Africa filed a genocide complaint against Israel in a United Nations court, raising concerns about a potential regional confrontation.

January 21: 21 Israeli troops died while attempting to establish a Gaza barrier.

January 26: U.N. court mandates emergency measures.

January 26: UNRWA terminates personnel after allegations of October 7 participation.

February 23: Netanyahu offers a hardline vision for post-war Gaza.

February 29: Death tolls surpass 30,000.

March: Donors bring help via air and sea.

April 1: Israeli strikes murder seven World Central Kitchen workers.

April 13: Iran unleashed a volley of drones and missiles towards Israel, the first time it has struck the Jewish nation directly from its own.

Iran warned Israel of a larger attack on its territory if it retaliates against Tehran’s overnight drone and missile attack, adding that Washington has been warned not to back Israeli military action.

“Our response will be much larger than tonight’s military action if Israel retaliates against Iran,” armed forces chief of staff Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri told Iranian state TV.

He said that Tehran warned Washington that any backing of Israeli retaliation would result in US bases being targeted.

The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, also warned Tehran would retaliate against any Israeli attack on its interests, officials or citizens.

As of Sunday morning, Israeli officials indicated no decision had been made about an Israeli response to the Iranian attack, as an official said any potential response would be discussed at the war cabinet meeting.

Austrian airlines said on Sunday it has suspended all its flights to Tel Aviv, Erbil and Amman with immediate effect following an escalation of tensions between Iran and Israel.

The suspension will last until April 15.

Austrian Airlines had already announced it was suspending flights to Tehran until April 18.

“Long-haul routes through the Middle East will also be rerouted accordingly due to various airspace closures,” the airline said in a statement.

Late Saturday (13 April) night, air raid sirens blared out across Israel as explosions and missiles lit up the night. Iran carried out an unprecedented attack against Israel — launching over 200 drones and missiles targeting commercial capital Tel Aviv, the disputed city of Jerusalem, and Dimona, the desert city home to Israel’s nuclear plant.

Confirming the same, military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said to the media: “Iran launched UAVs from its territory towards the territory of the state of Israel. We are working in close cooperation with the United States and our partners in the region in order to act against the launches and intercept them.”

Read More

Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the G7, has called a video meeting of G7 leaders on Sunday to discuss Iran’s attack on Israel late on Saturday.

The Iranian attack in response to a suspected Israeli air strike on Iran’s embassy compound in Damascus on April 1 has raised the threat of a wider regional conflict.

“We express our deep concern about a further destablisation of the situation in the region and continue to work to avoid that,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on social media platform X.

The G7 call will be held in the early afternoon European time, an Italian government statement said.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has denounced Iran’s irresponsible attack on Israel and assured that the UK will defend regional security after Tehran launched dozens of aerial drones and cruise missiles overnight Saturday and Sunday.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said late Saturday that six extra Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter planes had been sent to the region to assist in intercepting the drone assaults.

The aircraft and air-fuelling tankers are being deployed as part of the United Kingdom’s continuing Operation Shader against the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organisation in the region.

I condemn in the strongest terms the Iranian regime’s reckless attack against Israel, said Sunak in a statement issued by 10 Downing Street.

According to Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, there is still a threat to strike Iran in reaction to its retaliation.

Katz stated, “We said that if Iran attacks Israel, we will attack it back and this is still effective. We need to deepen our cooperation with our allies. I will lead a political attack against Iran.”

“Iran’s audacity in such an attack must be erased,” Israeli Army Radio was informed by Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer.

In early Sunday trade, Tel Aviv equities were flat to slightly down following Iran’s strike on Israel on Saturday.

The blue-chip TA-35 remained steady at 07:34 GMT, but the broad Tel Aviv 125 index was down 0.2%, following an earlier decline of 0.6%. The price of government bonds decreased by up to 0.6%.

According to The Times Of Israel, Israeli attacks are reported by Lebanese media agencies close to the village of Nabi Chit in the northeastern Lebanon’s Baalbek District.

Social media footage of a targeted place shows smoke billowing from it. Baalbek is located around 100 kilometres from the Israeli border and has previously been described as a Hezbollah stronghold.

According to a source in Lebanon’s Hezbollah organisation, which is supported by Iran, Israel targeted one of its facilities on Sunday in the east of the country, near the Syrian border, as tensions increased following Iran’s direct strike on Israel.

“The Israeli strike targeted an area… near Baalbek and targeted a two-storey building belonging to Hezbollah,” a source within the group told AFP, adding there were no casualties. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency also reported that “an enemy air strike targeted a building” in the village of Nabi Sheet and “destroyed it”.

The Iranian chief of staff of its armed forces has said any Israeli retaliation will be met with a larger attack than last night, according to state media.

Tasnim reported General Mohammad Bagheri also warned the US its bases will be targeted if Washington backs Israel in any kind of retaliation.

According to a cabinet statement released on Sunday, Jordan prevented some aircraft from entering its airspace on Saturday night in order to protect its citizens.

Iran retaliated against Israel late on Saturday by firing missiles and sending explosive drones into Israeli land, marking the start of a potential regional battle.

According to two people familiar with regional security, Jordan, which is sandwiched between Israel and Iran, has prepared its air defences to thwart any drone or missile incursions.

Iran on Sunday urged Israel not to retaliate militarily to an unprecedented attack overnight, which Tehran presented as a justified response to a strike that destroyed its consulate building in Damascus earlier this month.

“The matter can be deemed concluded,” Iran’s mission to the United Nations said in a post on X just a few hours after the start of the operation late Saturday.

“However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe,” the Iranian mission warned.

No Iranian leaders have spoken out to justify the attack, which marked the first time Iran has launched a direct military assault on Israeli territory.

The Iranian army said Sunday its drone and missile attack on Israel, in retaliation for a deadly strike on Iran’s Damascus consulate, has “achieved all its objectives”.

“Operation Honest Promise… was completed successfully from last night to this morning and achieved all its objectives”, Mohammad Bagheri, the Iranian armed forces’ chief of staff, told state TV.

Italy has scheduled a video meeting of G7 leaders for Sunday to address Iran’s attack on Israel, according to sources in the prime minister’s office.

The call will take place in the early afternoon, in European time.

Italy presently holds the G7’s alternating chairmanship.

Iraq restored its airspace on Sunday after halting all air traffic following Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile strike on Israel, according to the Iraqi aviation authority.

Jordan, which borders both Iraq and Israel, and Lebanon all reopened their airspace on Sunday, as did Israel, which stated that the Iranian strike had been “foiled” with the majority of launches intercepted overnight.

The Iraqi civil aviation authority declared in a statement “the reopening of the airspace” and the resumption of flights to and from airports around the nation, stating that there were no longer any “security risks to civilian aircraft”.

Local Kurdish media in northern Iraq claimed that Iranian drones flew over the autonomous Kurdish territory overnight.

President Dennis Francis of the United Nations General Assembly expressed profound worry on Sunday in reaction to Iran’s attack on Israel, saying that this deadly cycle of attack and counter-attack will lead nowhere but to more murder, suffering, and misery.

Francis said in a press release, “I am deeply concerned about the unfolding situation in the Middle East, involving the launch by Iran of drones and missiles against Israel.”

Iran’s unprecedented nocturnal attack on Israel has been “foiled,” the Israeli military announced Sunday, with hundreds of missiles and drones intercepted with the assistance of the US and allies.

The strike, which began late Saturday, is a significant escalation of the long-running secret conflict between the regional adversaries, and it occurs against the backdrop of Israel’s continuing fight with Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Iran’s proxies and supporters also launched coordinated strikes on Israeli sites, with sirens sounding in various locations and AFP journalists hearing booms in the skies above Jerusalem early Sunday.

In a statement made by the foreign ministry on Sunday, Japan strongly criticised Iran’s retaliatory assault on Israel, calling it an escalation of events and expressing great worry over the situation.

The statement added that “this attack is one that further worsens the current Middle East situation. We are deeply concerned and strongly condemn this sort of escalation.”

The statement said that Japan places a high priority on peace and stability and that the government would keep using its diplomatic resources to keep things from getting worse.

Jordan reopens airspace after closing it following Iran’s huge strike on Israel.

Jordan restored its airspace after suspending it late on Saturday after Iran launched drones and missiles in an attack against Israel, according to state TV and Jordanian aviation officials.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared today that his nation will “harm” anybody who attacks them and that his nation has been ready for an immediate attack by Iran for years.

In retaliation for the bombing of Iran’s embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus earlier this month, Iran sent a volley of explosive drones and missiles directly into Israeli territory on Saturday.